Home for the Holidays

Wearing  his 'Dress Blues' 

my daughter's boyfriend made it home for the holidays.

Did you see someone special for the holidays?

Christmas Morning

I just LOVE when you get this reaction from a gift. 

We gave this gift to my MIDDLE child. 

It is just a bottle of wine... 

Or is it??

Who cares what it TASTES like,

the label is priceless!! 

Middle Sister

Rebel Red

Philly Lights

Photos taken from the South Street Bridge in Philly.

Festive

I used a 4 pt star filter with this shot.

Playing with the Christmas Lights

For me it is Christmas lights,  

but any lights will work!
Here are some things you can do with lights.

You can make lights seem to twinkle
by using a higher aperture setting.

f25, ISO 400, 30sec on tripod 

If you can attach a filter to your lens,
try using a star filter for this effect.


 
f 2.8 ISO 1250, 1/60 sec on tripod 
using a 4pt star filter 

Below is an outdoor tree  

covered in blue lights.
If you have a zoom lens you can do this one. 

My camera was on a tripod, 

I selected a slow shutter speed  

and turned the zoom on my camera while  

the shutter was open.  

1/6 sec, ISO 100, f2.8 on tripod
rotating zoom.

And of course, everyone's favorite these days...

bokeh!
The out of focus lights in the background create bokeh.
Use a wide aperture
and add distance between your subject and the lights.

f1.8, ISO 640, 1/200


Do you have any tips for shooting lights?
Please share them,
I'd like to try something new! 

PSU Abington Commencement

Congratulations to Future Son In Law
for graduating in blue and white. 

He finished in 3.5 years! 

Way to go!



Below...the PSU Nittany Lion
welcomes the guests.



And when your last name starts with Y
you might be the last one up!



Here's the proud fam and my daughter.



Here's a photo with me...
a rare moment in FRONT of the camera.





What were the colors of your school?
My college was blue and white too...
but it was not Penn State.

Christmas Light Extravaganza

Just around the corner from my home 

is a neighbor who goes all out for Christmas! 

Located on Butler Pike right at the 

Ambler Exit of Rt. 309 - 

You'll likely find a traffic jam 

of light seekers! 

For those of you who can't make it in person... 

here's a glimpse!

Yes, even Santa stops in for a visit...

My First Camera

 

Today, it sits on a shelf.

Fonthill Castle at Christmas II

Fonthill Castle at Christmas

The historic Fonthill Castle
was constructed for Henry Mercer
1908-1912.

Byers' Choice

Just a bit up the road from me 

is a Made in America 

success story:  Byers' Choice. 

Byers' Choice was started by Jane Byers - 

with roots in the 1960s 

of her first designs of Christmas Carolers.

Soon orders began to come in 

as others wanted Carolers of their own. 

And a business was born.

Today, you can visit their factory,

and watch the artists at work. 

You can also walk through villages 

of eternal caroling!

There are hundreds of their Carolers on display.

All the photos in this set 

have something in common.

Did you notice what it is?

 

Hopefully,

my friends from 

Friday My Town Shoot Out 

noticed!

A Christmas Tree Pilgrimage

Where I live the only places to buy Christmas trees

are in parking lots. 

:(  

I am soooo not buying a Christmas Tree from a parking lot.  

So we trek north to a Christmas Tree Farm. 

:) 

Not as far north as the North Pole...

but pretty close! 

We debate over which tree is the best tree.

And once decided, 

it is cut and hauled home. 

But first it is shaken....

and wrapped...

then placed on the rooftop.

 

And that completes our annual
Christmas Tree Pilgrimage!

Do you have an annual holiday tradition too?
Tell me about it!

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